Why is MW3 saying free trial?

Picture this: you purchase a costly season pass on top of an already expensive game. However, as soon as you launch MW3 and reach the loading screen, you notice a message in the top left corner of your screen saying free trial with a countdown timer, leaving you with the impression you've only bought a trial version expiring soon.

If this pop up gave you a bit of a heart attack like it did to me, there's no need to worry. Below, I will explain why your MW3 says free trial.

Why is Call of Duty MW3 showing up as 'free trial'?

Activision occasionally offers the game or parts of it for free with major updates, allowing all players to try it out before making a purchase. When this occurs, the free trial message appears for every player in the game, regardless of whether they own the game or are playing the trial.

Related: How to get the Killshot skin in MW3 Season 2

When the free trial ends, players who have purchased the game will be able to continue playing as they always have, while players on the free trial will not. If you enjoyed the game, I highly recommend buying it because it offers longevity, and you will definitely end up paying your money's worth.

For more on Call of Duty, be sure to check out How to Complete All Multiplayer Week 1 Challenges in MW3 Season 2 and All MW3 Season 2 Prestige Emblems here on Pro Game Guides.